HOCKEY: Sam Reinhart scores twice as Panthers defeat Lightning

Sam Reinhart scored both a short-handed goal and a power-play marker, leading the Florida Panthers to a 5-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Monday night. The win wrapped up a strong four-game road trip for Florida, who finished with a 3-1-0 record.

Carter Verhaeghe contributed with a goal and an assist, while Anton Lundell and Brad Marchand also found the back of the net. Aaron Ekblad and Uvis Balinskis both posted two assists in the effort. Goaltender Sergei Bobrovsky was stellar in net, stopping 26 shots to help his team close out the trip on a high note.

Florida’s penalty kill was a standout in the game, successfully shutting down all five Tampa Bay power plays. The Panthers have now gone 5-1-1 in their last seven games, thanks in large part to their dominant special teams.

The Lightning got goals from Max Crozier, who scored his first NHL goal, and J.J. Moser, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Panthers' offensive surge. Brayden Point added two assists, and Nick Paul made his 500th NHL appearance. Backup goalie Jonas Johansson made 19 saves in his first game against his former team.

First Period: Quick Panther Surge

Tampa Bay’s first power play, a holding penalty on Florida’s Niko Mikkola just 1:41 into the game, quickly turned into a nightmare for the Lightning. The Panthers capitalized on the penalty kill, with Reinhart leading a two-on-one breakout. He kept the puck and fired a short-handed goal from the right circle at 2:16 to give Florida a 1-0 lead.

As soon as Mikkola returned to the ice, the Panthers struck again. On a three-on-one rush, Lundell scored from the same spot as Reinhart just 1:32 later, pushing the lead to 2-0.

Second Period: Panthers Dominate

Florida’s penalty kill continued to shine in the second period, and the Panthers quickly capitalized on another rush. Verhaeghe fed Marchand in front of the net, where the left winger scored his team-leading 19th goal at 11:48 to extend the lead to 3-0.

Later in the period, Reinhart added his second goal of the game on the power play. Mackie Samoskevich made a perfect pass across the crease, and Reinhart buried it through Johansson’s pads at 18:08 to give Florida a commanding 4-0 lead. Tampa Bay managed a late goal with 33 seconds remaining in the period, as Crozier fired a long shot past Bobrovsky to get the Lightning on the board.

Third Period: Panthers Hold Off Tampa Bay

Moser scored early in the third period, cutting the Panthers' lead to 4-1 at 2:11. However, Tampa Bay’s momentum was stymied by a failed challenge for goalie interference on a potential Florida penalty.

Verhaeghe sealed the win with a backhand goal at 6:37 to make it 5-2, and the Panthers held strong the rest of the way to finish off the Lightning.

With the victory, the Panthers continue to build momentum as they return home from a successful road swing. -Field Level Media/Reuters